Clearing debris to save and improve lives

Syria | 2025 | CBPF

Syria, Idleb and region. Displaced from his town by fighting several years ago, Khalid and his family settled on a small piece of land, where his farming provides them with a basic living.

The rough road overlooking this land, however, has become more and more difficult to travel, especially during winter. And the major earthquake in February 2023 made it even worse, clogging the road with debris.

On February 6 that year, two devastating earthquakes jolted southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, causing death and injury. Over a quarter of a million people were made homeless in Syria, and thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged.

Debris from fallen buildings, ruined cars and damaged roads make it hard for people - including humanitarian workers - to get to hospitals, work and school. Uncleared dirt, chemicals, and decomposing waste attracts animals that spread disease and poses a health risk. And farmland like Khalid’s is rendered unusable or inaccessible.

With funding from the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund, UNDP helped remove debris and recycle it for use in rebuilding roads, public spaces, and other structures – also building a foundation for better environmental management as part of the recovery process.

Khalid’s road was repaired using recycled debris from the earthquake. He says, “This project helped me,” adding that now it’s much easier to get his crops to market.

Under the UNDP project, an emergency debris alert system was established across Idleb and northern Aleppo. Community members could report troublesome debris for clearance, which has led to the removal of over 71,400 m³ of debris.

“This project wasn’t just a means to earn money,” says Wudha, who was employed to help with road clearance. “It was an opportunity to help people who lost their homes in the earthquake,” she explains.

This included people like Qadour, whose home was severely damaged in the quake. Struggling to provide for his family, he was daunted by the task of also clearing out his damaged home. “The removal of all the debris really helped me restart. The project team took the responsibility of clearing my home off my shoulders and helped us keep the area clean, which had become a breeding ground for insects."

The Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund supported-project also repaired local infrastructure, including gravelling 52.5 km of roads accessing essential services and agricultural areas, and restoring 28,000 m² of public space like paths, camp foundations and community yards. The initiative also boosted the purchasing power of 600 vulnerable men and women through a cash-for-work scheme.

For Fares, who also worked on the project, the work was welcome – but he longs to return to his village. “The income from these projects helps us meet our needs, but my real wish is for these conditions to end so that we can return to our village and our normal daily life.”

Based on information from UNDP

More information on the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund

Pooled Fund impact stories

Published March 2025